Episode 8625

Extended Summary

John notices Mali closing up at the surf club and wonders if he’s going to go home and obsess over board designs. Mali says that Abigail’s working at Salt so he’s going to go up and spend time with her. Abigail arrives with Levi and comments on Levi and Mali playing phone tag. John comments on Levi and Mali not being able to talk when they live together. Levi says it’s hard to find a time when Mackenzie’s not around but suggests they have a chat upstairs. Mali says he was just going so Levi says they’ll do it tomorrow. Abigail quietly tells Mali he can’t avoid it forever.

Levi and Abigail head upstairs and comment on Eden’s mean bartender look. She tells them she’s going to be volunteering at the police station, helping support victims. Abigail asks if she’s going to quit Salt and Eden says she still needs a job to pay the bills. Levi asks if it’s definite and Eden admit it’s not but David is keen. They both congratulate her and Levi suggests cocktails since she’s finished her shift. Eden says she needs to get home to Cash. Abigail thinks he’ll love the idea. Eden looks a bit awkward.

At the beach house, David establishes that Cash has no problem with the volunteer programme itself, just with Eden being involved. He says he’s going to do Cash a favour…and pretend the conversation never happened. He’s not going to get involved in Cash’s marital disputes or shut down a volunteer. He says if Cash isn’t going to help with the washing up, he should get home.

At the Diner, Leah comments to Justin on the days when she’d take leftovers home to Theo. She wonders if she should give them to Sonny and Dana, since they didn’t eat anything at the barbecue. Justin thinks they’ve already eaten and asks if she went to the barbecue because she knew Sonny was there. Leah says she’s worried about him and Justin says he’s worried about her. Leah snaps that she can’t just turn her feelings off. Justin says he’ll be available to support her since his counsellor’s said he doesn’t need to see her as much if at all, but Leah is unimpressed. John arrives, wondering if there’s any food. Leah says he’s in time to congratulate Justin on graduating from grief counselling. John tries to retreat but Leah gives him the leftovers and walks out. Justin says he put his foot in it.

Eden emerges from the bedroom as Cash arrives home. He says he went for a walk. Eden says she told Levi and Abigail about the volunteer work and wonders why he can’t be excited. Cash says he’s looking out for her. Eden says he’s worrying about something that will never happen. Cash starts to argue before saying he’s tired and suggesting they go to bed.

Next morning, Mali arrives at the board shop to find Levi waiting for him. Levi asks if they can talk. Mali tries to make an excuse before saying he doesn’t have time to do the board. Levi isn’t convinced, since he didn’t give him a deadline, and says he should say if he doesn’t want to do it. Mali says it’s not that and suggests they go somewhere and talk.

Eden goes to see David at the station and wonders if working at the station is dangerous. David says they don’t put civilians in danger. Eden asks if there’s a chance of her being targeted. David wonders if these are her worries or Cash’s. He says he can’t rule out every possibility but she’d be working at the courts and hospital and wouldn’t have contact with criminals. He says that, like he told Cash last night, they should leave him out of it. Eden picks up on the comment. Meanwhile, Cash goes for a run near the beach.

Eden arrives at Salt and tells Abigail that Cash lied to her. Abigail checks he’s still breathing. Eden explains that he went to see David to get her blocked from the programme and wants to wrap her in cotton wool. Down by the beach, Justin tells John he can’t put a foot right with Leah. John thinks Justin would know where she’s coming from, having experienced grief. Justin says Leah’s not doing anything to move on. John advises him to keep trying.

Leah is staring into space at the Diner. Mali comes over and checks some coffees on the counter are for him and Levi. Leah apologises for not bringing them over and Mali says to let him know if she and Justin need anything. He rejoins Levi, who has been looking through his designs and seems to agree with him that they’re lacking something. Mali thinks he should pull out but Levi thinks Mali doing it makes the board special. Mali says he’s a friend and brother to Mackenzie and needs to see her how Levi does.

Mali and Levi go for a walk in the park. Levi is a bit awkward talking about his relationship with Mackenzie but Mali encourages him to go from the beginning. Levi says he first met her when she was a patient and unconscious but he knew he was in trouble when they spoke and he felt things for her he’d never felt for anyone else, enough to leave his marriage for her. He says she’s fiery, strong, independent and fierce.

Cash arrives at the surf club and Abigail advises him to go for another run before retreating as Eden approaches. She asks if Cash is going to lie to her again about where he was last night, with him admitting he went to see David. Eden says he can’t spend all his time trying to protect her. At the Diner, John asks Leah if she’s spoken to Justin, saying he wants to be there for her to lean on. Leah admits Sonny said the same thing. David turns up and John thanks him for the barbecue invite. David reacts in frustration to a text, explaining he’s trying to get a date for Wendell’s sentencing. Leah gets angry about how long it’s taking, saying he told her the statement would put him away. Justin comes in during the outburst and Leah apologises. Justin suggests they go for a walk.

Levi and Mali arrive back at the surf club and Mali apologises to Abigail for losing track of time. He says he’s been honest with Levi now. Abigail is apologetic but Levi explains that they’ve talked and it’s his fault for not giving Mali a proper brief. Mali explains that the board is going to trace Mack and Levi’s love story.

Cash and Eden meet up at home. Eden understands Cash’s concerns but says she worries every time Cash goes out to work whether he will come home. She says she’s spoken to David and the danger to her is very limited. Cash accepts that he’s overreacting and says he’s going to stop trying to prevent it and support her.

Leah and Justin walk by the beach. Leah understands that Justin wants to be her rock but says they’re in different places. She’s proud of how Justin’s handling it but can’t be there with him. Justin says he wants to help and tells her she’s not alone but Leah is convinced she is and ends up going back to the Diner on her own. She looks at her laptop and at photos of Theo on her phone before starting to write a letter to Sonny.

Cash goes to see David at the station and apologises for trying to interfere, saying he’s not going to stand in the way of Eden participating. David understands wanting to protect your family but says you have to let them lead their own lives. He answers the phone and is annoyed that he’s only hearing the news now. He tells Cash that Wendell’s sentencing hearing is today and has already started.